Who's That Man With My Grandma?

Every Friday Mother has her hair done at a little shop not far from here in American Fork. There are probably 10-12 hairdressers and they also have a barber shop so it's a busy place. Quite often, when I take mother to her appointment, there is another older lady coming or going at the same time. She is tiny like mother, with white hair and a cane and she is very bent over. There is always a younger man helping her--just the way I help mother get in and out of the shop. Whenever we see her mother comments about how sad it is--"that poor woman who is so bent over." She often uses words like "pitiful", "so sad", "isn't that terrible?" As she makes these comments, I'm thinking, "She looks about like you, mother." But, of course, I would never say that to her and then I think that maybe the other lady really is more bent over than mother. One day I asked Heather to pick Mother up after her hair appointment because I was sick. She said when she pulled in she saw Grandma coming out of the shop with a man, who was helping her. She was so amazed and thought, "Who is that man with Grandma? What is Grandma doing with him--why is he helping her?" Then, she realized it wasn't Mother, but the other lady. I guess they do look a lot alike. I think we see ourselves as we were when we were young and able to do everything.

Saturday, September 24 was Cameron's baptism day. It's Heather's last child to be baptized--it was a great day. We enjoyed lunch at Heather's house after the baptism.

The weather has been so perfect these past few weeks--temperatures just perfect--cool nights, warm, but not hot days and lots of sunshine--Ah Fall!!  I told Art the other day that next Spring when I complain that our yard is too big and we need to sell it and get something smaller, he needs to remind me of Fall. We took advantage of the beautiful weather and had a couple of parties in our yard. One evening we hosted a neighborhood book group--mother joined us and I was so glad she did. Then on Thursday we had a luncheon for a couple of ladies who had birthdays this week. We had around 25 ladies here--did a pot luck salad luncheon and it was really nice. The ladies were so friendly to mother and she really seemed to enjoy the food and visiting. One of them said, "we should do this every month!"

Fall also brings the canning season and I was glad to get some peaches from a place in Orem. Our peach tree bore fruit this year, but they are so tiny--about the size of apricots. I guess I'm a "peach snob", because I just didn't want to spend the time putting them in bottles so I bought some nice ones. I think of the hundreds of bottles of fruit and vegetables mother must have bottled in her lifetime and she still would love to do it. She told me she would help and I would love it if she could, but I know she isn't physically able to do that. I just told her that Sarabeth was coming and we would do them together. Saturday morning she asked if we got all the peaches done and I said, "No, there are still two boxes on the deck, but with Cameron's baptism, they won't get done today." She said, "I can do them for you today!" She's always so willing and so wants to help. A good reminder for us when we think we have too much work to do! Being unable to work after a lifetime of work and service, is difficult, indeed.

Saturday night, Sarabeth, Amy and I went to the General Relief Society Meeting at the Conference Center. We are fortunate that our stake president is employed with the church and one of his responsibilties is the Conference Center--so he provided tickets for sisters in our stake. I invited mother to go with us and she really considered it, but in the end decided she really didn't feel well enough. Wish she could have been with us--it was a great meeting.

I think mother is doing quite well. She still enjoys visits, going out to lunch, concerts and being with family. We both send our love to all!

What happened???

Dear Family and Friends,

I started this post many weeks ago, but I got so discouraged with adding the pictures that I couldn't face it again. I've only been able to upload one picture at a time and it takes sooo long. Nyla told me I could just add more pictures and they would all upload, so I started uploading about six pictures one night, then went to bed. When I got up in the morning, uploading was still running and no pictures! There really must be an easier way so if one of you computer gurus want to help me sometime, I would greatly appreciate it.

Mother had a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist and she passed with flying colors! Everything looks good--blood pressure is good, heart rate is great. She's amazing!

After the dr. appointment, we made a spur-of-the moment decision to go to the quilt show at the Springville Art Museum. I called some of our friends who I thought would enjoy it and amazingly, they were able to join us!  It's always a great and inspiring show--so many beautiful quilts with so much work put into them that it boggles the mind. We enjoyed it so much and just as we were leaving the quilt show, Pam and Val walked in. It was fun to see them.

Thursday August 25 was Scott's birthday--we enjoyed red velvet cake and ice cream at their house.

We had a fun King Family Reunion in our yard. It was so nice to have Kent and Sheila here. The weather was a bit hot, but sitting under the shade of our trees wasn't too bad--so glad our trees have gotten big enough to provide some shade! The younger kids enjoyed the new sandbox, which Art completed just that day. The almost 200 water balloons didn't last very long and we had fun with the "famous people" game--Devin chose to be Nyla and that was guessed quickly. Adam stumped us for a while by choosing foghorn leghorn (whoever that is!). We had to give up when we couldn't remember Jennifer Lopez--the name Massiel chose. The Elmo pinata was probably the biggest HIT of the party (pun intended)! I think Mother was so happy to have the family together. Daxton told me it was the best day ever and said we should have that party again.

We took this group picture before Sam and Massiel arrived.

Rachel also arrived later.

These picture were during the "famous people" game--everyone is thinking hard!

This is the group of non-gamers:

David had fun--just wasn't smiling!

The Pinata!!

Finally!! By the time the candy fell it was getting

quite dark. Some people were using cell phones

as flashlights so they could see the candy!

We attended the final Concert in the Park for this season. We enjoyed the Timpanogos Chorale--and the pre-show was a young man from our ward who sang several songs. We will miss going to the concerts on Sunday (in Pleasant Grove) and Monday (in American Fork) evenings--mother and I think they could have them for a while longer--after all, the weather is still good! I'm guessing the organizers are happy to see them end.

September has arrived along with cooler weather. We're still enjoying the deck although the evenings are so much shorter now! Right now we're sitting on the deck and a flock of geese are flying right over us--fun to see and hear--a sure sign that winter weather is on its way! We didn't do much this past week that was very fun or exciting. I was sick on Friday and didn't even leave the bedroom. It's a long day for mother when something like that happens. She did have a hair appointment and Sarabeth was so nice to come and take her, Heather picked her up afterward and brought her home. I'm sure she was glad to get out for a little while. Amy has learned how to fix Cream of Wheat for Mother for breakfast  so she fixed that and then something for lunch--not even sure what. I'm grateful for their help!

I guess that's all for now. Have a great week (or two...or three...). Hopefully, I can be more faithful about updating. Mother sends her love to all. I really want to take her to Logan to see Michelle's new twin boys--must have a picture!
--Karen and Mother